Understanding Patient and Physiotherapist Requirements for a Personalized Automated Smartphone Telemonitored App for Posttotal Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation: Qualitative Study.

This study asked what users wanted in an app; it did not build or test the app, so it cannot show whether these features improve recovery. Only 6 patients and 4 physiotherapists took part, from one hospital in Singapore, so the views may not apply to other settings or larger groups. Patients were selected by recruiting therapists, all had to be able to navigate at least 1 smartphone app, and all 6 reported no limitations in basic daily activities, so people who could not use a smartphone app or had greater disability were not represented. The interviewer was supportive of the app idea, which may have affected how freely participants described problems or criticisms. Participants did not receive the transcripts or final themes, so their own words were not checked against the researchers' interpretation.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not state who funded the work.

Do not read this as evidence that a telemonitored app improves knee replacement recovery. It only reports what 6 patients and 4 physiotherapists wanted in an app, and the app was not tested here.